Sunderland

Sunderland's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and family life.

The population decreased

Between the last two censuses, the population of Sunderland fell by 1.9%, from almost 281,000 to 276,000.

The loss of about 5,000 people means this area's population was the third-most rapidly-declining in the North East and, while the population of England increased by 7.9%.

In 2011, Sunderland was home to, on average, 14 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sunderland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sunderland increased by four years, from 37 to 41 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the North East and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,400 people aged 80 years or over, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 9,000.

About 8.0% of people in Sunderland are aged over the age of 80 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Sunderland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sunderland

Sunderland saw the North East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.3%) in Sunderland reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.5% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

Across the region, only South Tyneside saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 4.2% to 5.0%).

During this period, Sunderland overtook Hartlepool and Middlesbrough to become the North East local authority area with the highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fall in social renting

The percentage of Sunderland households that rented through social housing schemes decreased from 33% to 27% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households rented privately, compared with 5.4% in 2001. The percentage of Sunderland households that owned their home remained close to 60%.

The proportion of socially rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. As a result, Sunderland became more healthy than the regional average 23% in the North East described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of social housing in Sunderland decreased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sunderland, the North East and England that rented socially, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The proportion of married people fell in Sunderland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Hartlepool.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 51% to 46%.

During this period, Sunderland fell below Hartlepool to become the North East local authority area with the sixth-lowest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Sunderland saw the North East's largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in Sunderland had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 56% to 59%.

Across the region, Redcar and Cleveland saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households with children (from 31% in 2001 to 28% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of households with children, as the regional average fell from 30% to 28%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Sunderland saw the North East's joint largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, alongside South Tyneside.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) in Sunderland reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.9%.

During this period, Sunderland overtook Hartlepool and Middlesbrough to become the North East local authority area with the highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Sunderland remained close to 3.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Sunderland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Sunderland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 8.9% to 7.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 11% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Sunderland decreased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sunderland, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Sunderland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Redcar and Cleveland and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 7.8% to 10.0%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sunderland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13% to 8.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Sunderland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sunderland decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sunderland, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sunderland

The number of people in Sunderland from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 3,500 in 2001 to about 7,300 in 2011. This represents a change from 1.2% to 2.7% of the local population.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the North East (from 1.6% to 2.9%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Sunderland from the White ethnic groups decreased from just under 280,000 in 2001 to just over 260,000 in 2011 (from 98% to 96%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,100 to about 1,800 (from 0.4% to 0.7%).

Just under 1,300 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 360 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Sunderland increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Sunderland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Sunderland residents that were self-employed increased from 4.3% to 5.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 49% in 2001. The percentage of Sunderland residents that were unemployed increased from 4.8% to 5.9%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 5.3% in 2001 to 6.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Sunderland increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Sunderland, the North East and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

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